Big, Cute Smiles

These two little cuties...

... are at school today!

Later, after 4 1/2 hours have passed...

They seem just as happy as when I dropped them off!

Spence saw some old friends and read "The Kissing Hand." You may notice he's wearing different shorts. He got a little caught up in playing I guess and forgot to take care of business!

Allie's teachers send home "nursery grams" that tell all about her day. Allie played with baby dolls and loved music time and an outdoor buggy ride (not all the kids in her class can walk yet, so they use the bye bye buggy). Sounds fun!

Packed and Ready!

Three Little Backpacks All Packed for The Piks!

Spence and Allie start Mother's Day Out tomorrow! Tonight I asked Spence, "If you see Allie in the hall at school tomorrow, will you say hi and blow her a kiss?" He nodded.

Did anyone else get the memo about St. Patrick's Day being moved to August? I didn't even notice they were all wearing green until we were about to eat dinner tonight.

Spence sharing his yogurt with Allie. He's feeding it to her off the foil lid! I guess two Messy Marvins cancel each other out, because they hardly made a mess at all!

Surviving the First Week

Coleman has had a good week in school, and I'm adjusting as well. I get emotional when I know a big event or life change is coming, but once it arrives I usually realize it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Not that I thought Coleman going to Kindergarten would be bad, but I thought I would be really sad. This first week has been kind of neat. I've gotten to spend a lot of time with Spence and Allie. Spence is most definitely a character. Most definitely. A character. Thankfully he starts Mother's Day Out next week, because I think he's getting a little lonely. Today he brought in a little yellow berry from a tree or bush and announced that it was his friend. It's name is Pashuzzi (Puh-shoo-zee). I told him that we should probably put Pashuzzi in a little house or he might get lost or eaten by the dog. I found a little tupperware and wrote his name on it. Spence has played with it a lot today. I even found him putting Pashuzzi in the Bat Cave.

New friends

Spence is a very go-with-the-flow kind of kid. So we've been dropping Coleman off at school and heading to Target or Wal-Mart or the bank and getting some errands done. I can't believe how much easier it is to pick up a few groceries with just 2 kids!

Spence and I have also had some fun play time just the two of us. Today we played with Coleman's new bucket of Toy Story soldiers. Ssshhhh! Coleman bought them with his own money, so I'm hoping he will take care of them and not leave them on the floor to become Maestro treats!

Being boys

Today was Open House for Mother's Day Out. Spence and Allie will be starting next Tuesday. I've been telling people that it's odd because I was so emotional dropping Coleman off for Kindergarten on the first day. But come Tuesday when I drop Spence and Allie off, I'll be burnin' rubber out of that parking lot! Momma's ready for a little break. And I know they'll have so much fun and will only be there two days a week.

Allie checking out her new classroom

And as we were leaving I had to make Spence stop walking on the benches. He said, "How will I get over the lava? That's Lava Land down there." Apparently he was planning to jump from one bench to the next. He had to find another way! Unfortunately, he did fall into the lava.

The First Day of School

6:30 - Mommy gets up and makes cinnamon rolls from scratch (OK, so that statement isn't 100% accurate. I did, however, turn on the oven and place some frozen cinnamon rolls in.)


6:45 - Mommy packs Coleman's lunch - a turkey sandwich, tortilla chips, string cheese, a granola bar, Capri Sun, and a snack of Goldfish and pretzel sticks. The note she slipped in said, "Coleman, Hope you're having a great day! Enjoy lunch. I love you! *heart*, Mommy


7:00 - Time to wake up the boys! Coleman asks, "Are we going to Montana?" Apparently the only time he ever has to be woken up is when we have an early flight to Montana!


7:15 - While eating breakfast, Coleman expresses his concern over going to school 5 days a week. Mommy explains that there is so much cool stuff he'll learn that it will take more than the 2 days he's used to. Cool stuff like learning to read, to which Coleman replies, "If my teacher tries to teach me to read, it's not gonna work."

7:30 - Coleman sees the polo shirt that Mommy picked out for him to wear and lets her know that it is a church shirt and he will not be wearing it. Mommy decides not to force the issue and chooses several appropriate T-shirts for him to pick from. Coleman chooses his Montana shirt. Makes sense, since he thought we were going to Montana today.


7:45 - Time to leave! Everyone heads out the door.


7:55 - Here we are at the school! Spence tries his best to make us late by stopping to pick up sticks.


8:00 - We make it to class as the first bell is ringing. Mommy decides that tomorrow we will have to leave a little earlier. Coleman's teacher takes him to his desk and looks through his backpack.


8:02 - "Will you eat a hot lunch or did you bring your lunch? Put your name in the correct column."

8:05 Time for Mommy, Daddy, Spence, and Allie to say goodbye. "Have a good day, Coleman!"

8:07 - Spence's stick is right where he left it outside the building. Now he can take it home with him!


No tears, no drama, no refusals to go into the classroom! Coleman and I both did great! I'm not sure which of us I'm more proud of... The morning could not have gone smoother. Thank you grandparents for all your prayers!

'Twas the Night Before Kindergarten

'Twas the night before Kinder and all through the house
Mommy was typing and clicking the mouse.

The backpack was hung by the front door with care
In hopes that Coleman would remember it there!

Coleman was nestled all snug in his bed,
While visions of alphabets danced in his head.

And Daddy not worried and I with my tears,
Had just said our prayers and talked about fears.

Tomorrow will be here before I can blink,
My baby in school? I don't know what to think!

Will he cry? Will he scream? Will he walk right on in?
Will Mommy adjust as a new chapter begins?

These thoughts are all running around in my mind,
Will his teacher like him and what friends will he find?

If I won't leave will security take me away?
Then I'll drive by the school for the rest of the day!

I don't know about Coleman but I'm pretty scared,
You'll find out tomorrow how each of us fared!

Reading a story before bed

Someone's Special Day

Someone we love very much is celebrating a birthday today. This special someone is a wonderful Mom, Mother-in-law, Grandma, and friend. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. We love you Rita! You deserve to have the best birthday ever this year! We will never forget all you did for our family this past year. Especially the prayers! Wishing another beach getaway was in our future! Maybe next year?

Happy birthday Grandma!

A Girl Can Never Have Too Many Shoes!

She packed up her potential and all she had learned, grabbed a cute pair of shoes and headed out to change a few things.* (Leigh Standley, Curly Girl Designs)

This weekend is tax-free shopping weekend (no tax on clothing or shoes), so I had no plans to do any shopping other than for groceries. Then I realized my World Market coupon was about to expire and figured it wouldn't be too crowded since it's a home furnishing and decor store. I also realized I had a Payless Shoes coupon, and combined with their BOGO 1/2 off deal and no sales tax, I could get Allie some new shoes for a pretty good price. So Spence and I headed out and did a little shopping. I've never seen a line at Payless, but today it was about 5 people long at its peak. Not too bad, and I found some really cute shoes for the little lady!

Check out my brown and pink sneaks!

Lovely fuchsia Mary Janes

Mommy, I just can't decide!

The shoes must eventually come off! After bath Allie wanted to look at one of her favorite books. Jeani, you sent this book for Coleman (I'm pretty sure) when he was a baby and all 3 of my kids have loved it!

Coleman waiting for Daddy and Spence to return from Home Depot to watch the Texans' game. He's all decked out in his Texans jersey, football helmet, and foam finger!

*While in Montana I saw some Curly Girl products and got a kick out of the sayings! I see how much Allie already loves her shoes, and I think we may be in trouble!

Our Fab Five - Growing Up!

Friday we went to Paul David and Judson's new house. We loved it! From the pool to the playroom, it was perfect. We're so happy for the Legoudes family!

You know we always get a picture of the 5 kids together. Together, in the same picture, that's our only goal! There's usually a leg flying or a face being made, but it always captures our kids at the stage they're in. So here is our group on August 20, 2010:


And don't you know I searched my photo folders and found last August! This picture was taken around August 19, 2009:

Our babies aren't those babies anymore! But even the big boys look so much more grown up. It's sad to think that Coleman probably won't be in many of our group pictures anymore since he'll be in school.

Candice, Paul David, and Judson, we enjoy every play date and can't wait for the next! Especially that trip to the zoo when the weather cools down!

Meet the Teacher

Last night was Meet the Teacher at Coleman's school. He met her, but I don't think he said a word to her! He's a little unsure about this whole Kindergarten thing. 3 more days!

Coleman at his desk

Spence with Coleman's teacher (Coleman refused to get in the picture!)

I am preparing myself now that I most likely will not get a nice, smiling picture of Coleman on his first day of school. You'll have to come back Monday to see!

Repurposing Toys

My kids are so environmentally conscious. When they don't use a toy as it was intended anymore, they find a new purpose for it. Take for instance some old truck trailers. No longer loaded with junk and driven around, now they are used to "transform" Spence into Optimus Prime. You might notice Coleman shooting at Optimus Prime with his gun, which used to be a sword.


Sometimes I like to take old things and change them up a bit also. I had this boring bulletin board hanging above the desk in my bedroom. I had been trying to decide what to do to add a little life to it for quite some time now. One day last week I figured with the 30 cans of spray paint we have in the garage, there were bound to be some colors that would look good. I found a nice espresso and colonial red and took that bulletin board from drab to fab in no time! (Sorry. I have no future on HGTV.)

Before

After

That was easy and free! I see some spray painted picture frames in my future.

Growing Up, Growing Old?

Tonight was Kindergarten parent orientation at Coleman's school. Oh my. I'm not even going to get into how next week this time he will have finished his first day of school. No, not going to go there right now. Since we had to get a sitter for the orientation, Brian and I figured we'd go to dinner afterwards. We had such a nice dinner. It's always nice to get through a meal (that someone else cooked to my liking and then collects my dishes and washes them) without having to pour someone some juice, cut up somebody's meat, or hear complaining about how that's not what they wanted to eat. Ah, how meal time was meant to be. It was nice, but I was glad to get home to my precious babies. I try to enjoy the crazy, hectic meals along with the rare meals of peace eaten just with Brian. They are all special in their own ways.

The boys were up later than usual, and Spence was getting really sleepy. After I put Allie to bed, he came and sat in my lap in the rocker. He never does that, so I was totally enjoying it! A commercial came on for some makeup that is supposed to help dark circles and puffy eyes. Spence was intrigued.

Spence: What is that?
Mommy: Mommies put it under their eyes to help their eyes not look old.
Spence: Do we need that?
Mommy: Hmmmm. Do my eyes look old?
Spence: (turning so he can see my eyes) No. They just look tired.

I'll have to teach him to quit talking while he's ahead. Especially when a girl sets him up with a question like that!

The Last of Montana

Here are the last of the Montana pictures. We had the best time, and now are slowly adjusting back to the suffocating heat that wraps itself around you every time you walk outside here. Home sweet home.

So you don't think it was all fun and games, here are Coleman and Spence helping Granpda place some rocks around the waterfall.

But really, it was mostly fun and games.
Canoeing at the lake

The boys at Tizer Gardens

Nature Pictures

I am not at all a photographer. But while in Montana I took a lot of pictures of nature. I think some of them turned out really good, considering I'm not a photographer and all! I'm hoping to frame several of them for our guest bedroom. And hopefully they will give me inspiration for a new color to paint that room. Here are a few of the beautiful sights we saw in Montana. The first three pictures were taken in Gale and Rita's backyard. It is gorgeous and peaceful.

These picture were taken at a garden that we toured.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.

Psalm 104:31-34